ANOTHER QUESTION.

Wairarapa Age, 24 September 1923, Page 4

ANOTHER QUESTION.

The chairman of the Wellington Harbour Board (Mr G. Mitchell) uttered a fresh blast of self-satisfaction the other day regarding the facilities of the port of Wellington. The burden of his song was that the charges are lower than at any other port in New Zealand. Economies have recently been effected, we are told, but the Board does not yet think it safe to reduce the charges, seeing that the credit balance last year was very small, and there is only a hope of making both ends meet this year. There is no reckless borrowing, says Mr Mitchell, the Board’s debt is only £890,000, but it must make provision for ‘‘the march of progress.” What “The Age” would really like to know is how far ahead of the facts tho march of progress is supposed to carry a cautious board. Are the wharf sheds at Wellington ever full? Are the berths at the wharves ever full? Is a ship ever kept waiting for a berth? Is there any justifiable use at all for the great U shed, which is being let for motor and poultry shows? Does it pay interest? It is no excuse for a board to say that its charges arc the lowest in New Zealand if it cannot also say that they are as low as they can possibly be made, and that nothing is loaded on to them which is unnecessary or premature. These are vital matters for the farmer.